Update: The listing for physical Nintendo Switch 2 games that are more expensive was erroneously passed around. Mario Kart World is expected to be $80 at launch both digital and physical, provided prices are not increased following Trump’s latest tariffs.
More information for the Nintendo Switch 2 will be rolling out as we get closer to its June 5 release. Just moments after the big Nintendo Direct that showed a bunch of games coming to its launch lineup, we learned that games will be a bit more expensive on the new console. It seems like fully priced Nintendo Switch 2 digital games like Mario Kart World will be priced at $80, while physical collectors will have to pay $90 for the same game. This isn’t the case for everything, though, as Donkey Kong Bananza is priced at $70 on its page, and its physical edition also being an extra $10.
Why do some Nintendo Switch 2 digital games cost $80?
In the current landscape of the world, it is not that surprising that Nintendo Switch 2 games cost a bit more. Inflation and tariffs in the United States are going to have a bigger impact on incoming games and consoles in the near future, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the consumer is going to be affected by this. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best selling game on Nintendo Switch, so Nintendo is probably looking to get even more money out of its successor.
The fact that physical games are priced at $90 will have a profound impact on that market. Physical sales and availability have already been dipping for years, but this will only push people more into a fully digital future.
With Nintendo being the first to jump into higher game prices for their new console, you can expect other publishers to follow not far behind. Games like Grand Theft Auto VI jump to mind as possible games that can potentially ask for a $90 price tag at launch. Of course, that is just speculation until it is finally announced, but at this point, it would seem that not much is off the table in terms of how much the consumer has to play to enjoy video games going forward.
